UN appeals for 1 billion dollars to help Syrian children

UN agencies and aid groups said Tuesday they need 1 billion dollars from donors to help Syrian children affected by the conflict, dpa reported.

More than 1 million Syrian refugees are children. Many have suffered the loss of family members, injuries, abuse, child labour or recruitment as child soldiers, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in Geneva.

The donations for the so-called "No Lost Generation" programme are to be used for providing psychosocial support, educating children who have been out of school, training teachers and other projects.

"The future for these children is slipping away, but there is still a chance to save them," said UN Refugee High Commissioner Antonio Guterres.